X. The Leech and His Patients Quiz — The Scarlet Letter

What metaphor does Hawthorne use to describe Chillingworth's probing of Dimmesdale's heart at the start of the chapter?

• A shepherd guarding his flock
• A miner searching for gold and a sexton delving into a grave
• A surgeon performing a delicate operation
• A fisherman casting his net into deep waters

Where does Chillingworth claim to have found the dark, unsightly plants he is examining?

• Growing wild in the forest outside town
• In his private garden behind the house
• On an unmarked grave in the nearby graveyard
• Along the banks of the brook where Hester walks

According to Dimmesdale, why might guilty men choose to conceal their sins rather than confess?

• They fear the legal penalties prescribed by Puritan law
• They believe confession will endanger their families
• They retain a zeal for God's glory and fear confession would destroy their ability to do good
• They do not believe their sins are serious enough to warrant public confession

Pearl arranges prickly burrs along the scarlet letter on Hester's bosom.

Dimmesdale calls Chillingworth "the Black Man" to his face during their argument.

What does Pearl shout when she sees Dimmesdale and Chillingworth at the window?

• That the minister should come and play with her among the graves
• That Chillingworth is an old wizard who makes evil potions
• That the old Black Man has got hold of the minister already
• That her mother's scarlet letter is burning brighter than usual

How does Dimmesdale react when Chillingworth suggests his bodily illness stems from a spiritual wound?

• He quietly agrees and begins to weep
• He laughs dismissively and changes the subject
• He cries "No!—not to thee!—not to an earthly physician!" and rushes from the room
• He calmly asks Chillingworth to leave and never return

After his outburst, Dimmesdale permanently breaks off his relationship with Chillingworth.

In this chapter, what does the archaic word "leech" mean when applied to Chillingworth?

• A blood-sucking worm used in medieval medicine
• A term for a physician or healer
• A type of dark plant used in herbal remedies
• A Puritan term for a person who lives off others' charity

What happens when Dimmesdale falls into an unusually deep sleep?

• Pearl sneaks into his room and places burrs on his chest
• Hester comes to his door but decides not to wake him
• Chillingworth pushes aside his vestment and looks at his chest
• Chillingworth searches through his private letters and journals

How does Hawthorne describe Chillingworth's reaction to what he finds on Dimmesdale's chest?

• Quiet satisfaction and a knowing nod
• Tears of pity for his patient's suffering
• A wild look of wonder, joy, and horror, compared to Satan claiming a soul
• Cold indifference followed by careful note-taking

Chillingworth's eyes are described as burning blue and ominous, like the reflection of a furnace.

What does "somniferous" mean in the sentence describing the book Dimmesdale was reading?

• Scholarly and intellectually demanding
• Written in an ancient or forgotten language
• Sleep-inducing or tending to cause drowsiness
• Dealing with spiritual or theological subjects

What distinguishes Chillingworth's ecstasy from Satan's, according to Hawthorne's final line?

• A trace of human compassion
• The trait of wonder in it
• A lingering sense of professional duty
• A moment of hesitation before acting